"Basketball gods help the Lakers" - Fans breathe sigh of relief as LeBron James won't have to undergo surgery on foot after injury
The LA Lakers received a positive update regarding LeBron James' foot injury. According to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, the four-time MVP will not need surgery to recover. James was reportedly out indefinitely before the specifics of his injury were reported.
The update means that we could see him return sometime later this season. The Lakers are vying to qualify for the playoffs, so this is welcome news for the team. James has been their best player this season, averaging a team-high 29.5 ppg on 50.1% shooting. The Lakers are 30-33 for the season, ranked 11th in the Western Conference.
Sources: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will not require surgery on his foot. On latest #thisleague UNCUT with @TheSteinLine, we discuss what Lakers have to do to help his rehab process, Kevin Durant’s debut with Suns, Clippers, Warriors & more.
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The LA Lakers faithful were excited and relieved about James' latest injury update. Fans went into a frenzy on Twitter, with one of them writing:
"Finally the basketball gods help the lakers"
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine Finally the basketball gods help the lakers
Here are some more reactions that followed:
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine AHHHHHHHHH https://t.co/ONMfXXyAdw
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine Thanks for putting to bed a fear I didn’t even have
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine thank God finally good news
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine I knew my glorious king would be fine ☺️
@ChrisBHaynes @TheSteinLine https://t.co/k8COoQl3Bd
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Massive W https://t.co/54R7hs6nnM
🏽@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes I was worried about my King all night losing sleep, i can now go back to my regular life 🙏🏽
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Can't wait to hear about his foot 4,576 times
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Anthony Davis would of been out for the rest of next season
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Season saved lakers 2023 champions lfgggg
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes https://t.co/LKeAVaapfT
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Lebron just isn’t a winner like Kobe or Jordan. Both those guys would play through a foot injury even if it required surgery!
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes Read this wrong the first time that’s good news
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes https://t.co/ZZC05zJwhr
@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes https://t.co/RfCwYHiEy0
LA Lakers rely on depth amid LeBron James' absence
The LA Lakers have managed to win two out of three games without LeBron James since the trade deadline. Their last win, a 123-117 victory over the OKC Thunder on the road, came without LeBron, Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell. The team has better depth and support around their stars, which could be enough to sustain a decent winning stretch in their absence.
Along with an All-Star caliber player in Russell, the Lakers added role players like Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba. They also traded for Rui Hachimura a few days before the deadline. The Lakers addressed their roster deficiencies, improving their shooting, adding more length and size to the wings and getting younger around LeBron and AD.
The LA Lakers are 5-2 since their trade deadline day additions debuted against the defending champions Golden State Warriors on Feb. 11. They rank sixth in defensive ratings with their new-look roster, with a 109.1 rating. The Lakers have the 10th-best net rating during that stretch (3.0).
It's a small sample size, but the LA Lakers seem well-equipped to win games without LeBron James. Anthony Davis has played at a DPOY level and showed flashes of his potential on offense. Meanwhile, D'Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder have consistently delivered.
The team looks balanced to compete on both ends, which wasn't the case, especially offensively without LeBron James. LA is a game behind the 10th seed and 2.5 games off the sixth seed. Top six seeding is very much in sight, despite James' extended absence, thanks to their excellent business at the trade deadline.